Record repeater for sound-reproducing instruments



Oct. 13, 1925. 1,556,667

R. BLASCHKE, NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME R. F. BLASH RECORD REPEATBR FQRSOUND HEPRODUCING INSTRUMENTS Filed April 2, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Ot.13,19ZS. 1,556,661

R. BLASCHKE, NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME RpFfBLASH RECORD REPEATBR- FOR SOUND REPRODUCING INS'IRU 1 TS Filed April 2, 1919 2 eats-Sheet 2 "WEI/TOR 2 BY 4T 75 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

RUDOLPH BLASCHKE, NOWBY CHLAN'GE OF RUDOLPH FREDERICK BLASH, 0F

cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY Mnsnr. AssIeNnn-Nrs,- TO EDGAR s. Evans,

TRUSTEE, or cLEvE LAN OHIO.

RECORD REPEATER FOR SOUND-REPRODUCING INSTRUI'TENTS.

Application filed April 2, 1919. fseria No. 286,819.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, RUDOLPH BLAscHxE, now by change of name RUDOLPH FRED- ERIGK'BLASH; a citizen of the-United States,

residing at Chicago,-in' thecounty of-Co'ok and State of Illinois;haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in; Record Repeaters for Sound-Reproducing Instruments, of which the following is a specification. i I g This invention relates to a device in the nature of an attachment for a sound reproducing instrument employing {records in the form of a disk, its purpose being to produce automatically a repetition of sound from any desired portion of the record.

In the construction of the present device it has been sought to employ parts which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which are certain in their operation as well; and further to so arrange and design the several parts of the device that it may be readily attachedin place so as tofunction with certainty. Other objects and uses as well will also appear from the description to follow, reference being made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as exhibited in the accompanylng draw ngs,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective'view showing the present device operatively connected with the sound reproducing parts of a talking machine; I

Fig. 2 is a detail showing one form of roller bracket attached to the sound box;

6 Fig. 3 shows another form of rol-ler'bracket secured to a sound box;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the post in connected relation with the turn table spindle;

Fig. 5 Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail showing in side elevation one of the stops in its relais a section taken on line 55 of tion to the roller bracket shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the roller bracket shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a. transverse View throughthe taken on line 11l1 of Fig. 9; I

Fig.' 12 is an enlarged detail in plan taken on line 12l2 of Fig. 8; and

F ig. 13 is a section taken on line-13l3 of Fig. 8.

.The sound .reproducing instrument for which the present device is adapted may be of the usual kind employing a base 11 upon which is mounted a turn table 12 having a center spindle 13 by which a disk record 14: may be correctly positioned. Mounted to swivel upon the base is a tone arm 15 equipped with the usual swinging sound box 16 fro1n which projects a needle 17 which tracks in the grooves of the record. Instruments constructed in this manner are well known and require no further description.

The parts which are special to this invention constitute,in effect, a bridge with one end supported on the base, its other end being carried upon the spindle, and elevated in relation thereto when the tone arm swings inwardly to a desired point, the bridge being thereby inclined in a manner that will lift the needle from the record and,

under the'action of gravity, return the tone arm to a predetermined point for the replacement of'the needle upon the record. When operating in thismanner a reproduction of sound may be had from any given part ofthe record, as often as desirechand withoutfurther attention of any kind.

In carrying out this invention, use is made of a threaded-post 20 having a flange 21 which is secured to the base lliadjacent its edge in a manner to not interfere with the turn table 12. Threaded to this post is a U-shaped bracket 22 having its opposite walls equipped with openings through which may project trunnions'23 formed on f the end 24 of a frame 25 which extends toward the spindle. It is preferredthat this end 24: should be offset from the main por-. tion of the frame inthe manner shown, to

provide a substantially upright portion 26 havinga slot and a bore; and that the opposite end of the frame, des'gnated as 27, should be offset to provide an upright portion-28, all as clearly appears in Figs. 1, 8,

and 11. Extended from the frame in paral-' lel relationwith its end 27 is a bracket plate Fig. 11" enlarged detail in section which constitutes a lower bearing for a rotatable post 30 whose upper end is journaled in the plate end 27. Preferably this post is equipped with a head 31 securedthereto by left hand threads, so as'to facilitate manual rotation of the post, which is normally rotated with the spindle in a right hand direction. The post is further provided with right hand threads 32 of relatively slight pitch, which are intersected spirally to provide, in effect, left hand threads 33 of relatively great pitch, both sets of threads terminating short of the ends of the post. I

The lower end of the post 30 is socketed to receive abushing, preferably of spring material, which may conveniently be made in the form of a cup (see Figs. 4 and 5.), whose walls, in the construction shown, are slotted to provide three sections 34 each having a curvature somewhat greater than the walls of the socket. These slots may, if desired, each terminate in an enlargement 35, thereby augmenting the flexibility of the sections 34'. Then so constructed and arranged, the bushing is adapted to remain seated within the post and tofrictionally engage the spindle 13 in a manner that will tightly fasten the post thereto in non-slipping relation.

Extending lengthwise of the frame is a rail 37 having one end received freely through a horizontal slot in the upright portion 26 and its opposite end formed to provide an offset lug 38 slidingly arranged within a vertical slot 39 formed within the upright portion. 23 of theframe; An car 40 having a vertical slot is struck downwardly from the end of the rail proximate to the post 30, andserves to loosely receive one end" 42 in the form of a fork having lugs 43 swedged out from opposite sides of itsbody, so as to provide an opening in which the end of the-rod may be received and gripped to thereby make fastening thereto. The side of this dog adjacent the post 30 is curved in conformity therewith soas to present its edge between thethreads 32 or 33, according as the rod is oscillated. The dog, which resembles a fork in form, may further have one of its corners 44 slightly warped (see Fig. 8) and its other corner 45 tapered, so as to facilitate entry between the threads 32 or when the rod 41 is properly oscillated.

The parts thus far described include a frame in the form of a bridge swingingly mounted adjacent the edge of the turn table and having its other end arranged operatively adjacent a revolving post which is equipped with threads that are capable of engaging a dog carried on the frame by which a lift rail may be raised. Other means which are provided for oscillating the dog into engaging relation with the post threads will now be described.

A pair of stops 46 and 47 adjustable lengthwise of the rail 37 are utilized to de termine the limits of travel of the tone arm initsswinging movements toward and from the spindle 13, these parts having capacity for engagement with a roller bracket that is secured to the sound box 16. The stop 46 may conveniently consist of a plate that is formed with an aperture in which is threaded a thumb screw 48, being further provided with an upwardly extending lug 49 and four legs 50 bent to lie around the edges so as to engage with-the under side of the rail 37, the thumb screw acting to hold the stop in a given position of adjustment.

By swedging the plate 51 to form a buttonon its under side which-co-operates with a depression in the spring, these two parts are held against relative movement. Against the tension of'this spring the stop may be moved longitudinally of the rail= by manipulation of a handle 54, as-shown. The plate may further be provided with trunnions- 55 affording a pivotal mountingfor a U-shaped trigger 56 whose back is formed with a tongue 57 that is arranged in underlying relation to the rod 41, and one of whose sides is upwardly extended in the form of a finger 58 adapted to be contracted by the roller bracket which is attached to the sound boX. The effect of movement on the trigger is to actuate the tongue 57 such that the inner end of the rod 41 is raised, thereby tilting "-1 in the form shown in Figs; 1, 2 and 7-, this may consist of a plate 59 suitably curved to fit an annular shoulder of the sound box and slotted as at 60 so as to receive the shank of one of the screws 61 ordinarily provided for holding together the parts of the sound box, the screw being first loosened to permit of its shank being received within the slot, and thereafter tightened to clamp its head upon the plate so as to attach the same securely in place. The plate is further formed with a pair of cars 62between which is journaled a roller 63 adapted to travel, wheneverrequired, upon the rail 37 a brake shield 64 overlying the roller and extending close to the rail when the latter is horizontallyidisposed. :Itmay be desirable,

however, to use other forms of roller brackets 1n connectlon wlth sound boxes that are made differently than'the one shown in Fig 2, and as a suggestedconstructionthat is adaptable to a dissimilar form of sound box, a second roller bracket is exhibited in.

Figs. 3 and 6, consist-ing'of a plate'65, from whichis struck a shield .66and a pair of cars 67 between which is journaled a roller 68 adapted to travel upon the rail 37 A slot 69 is also formed as shown, to cooperate with one of the screws 70 so as to fasten the bracket to the :sound box, in-a manner similar to that already explained. I The lowerv edge of the 'plate.65 extends close to rail, when in horizontal position, being adapted to act as a brake, as will presently be ex- In'opera-tion the vrecord to be played is positioned upon the turn table, the repeating attachment is then arranged in place, and the'two stops are set at about the points that define the limits of the portion of the record from which repeated reproductions of soundare desired. As the record revolves, the needle is tracked through the grooves of the record so as to swing the tone arm slowly toward. the inner stop d7, the re peat-ing device remaining all the while below the sound box to not interfere with its proper functioning; .Vith' continued'operation, the tone arm is'finally carried over to. 'the point where'the' roller bracket engages wit-h the finger;58v to operate the trigger,

consequent upon which, movement is communicated through the rodtlto tilt or raise the dog 42 into engagement with the lower most threads 32 ofthe post 30,:whichmeanwhile is rotating with the spindle 13.

.Havi11g engagedwith-thethreads 32, the

inner end of the rail 37 is caused to rise toward the roller bracket until it contacts with the brake shield, after which the sound box'itself islifted so as to remove theneedle from the record; with continued elevation of the inner end of the rail 37, it soon reaches an inclination that tends to start the tone arm sliding by gravity back toward the outer stop 46; but owing to the friction exerted by the edge of the brake shield, such movement is deferred until after the rail 37 has been tilted sufficiently to present its surface to the roller. At this juncture the sound box, together with its needle, will be elevated above the record to a point where it may be safely moved across the record to the stop 46, and according to the arrangement shown the return movement of the tone arm will not take place until the parts have assumed the relations described. At this stage of its operation, the dog 43 has about reached the limit of its upward travel within the threads 32, following which the weight of the bridge and parts supported thereon causes the dog to shift its angular positionso asto align with the threads 33 and descend again to its lowermost position. This angular shiftyof the head is accomplished automatically by gravity owing to its off-center attachment to the rod 41','as best appearsin Fig. 12, the dog tending' unaided to align with the threads'33. l/Vith descent of the inner end of .the rail, the sound box is also lowered so as tore-position the needle upon the record, and start over again a reproduction of sound therefrom. The operations just described will be repeated automatically over and over. again without further attention, as long as the turn table continues to revolve. 1'

The description just given applies specifically to the form of roller bracket shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7-, but it is to be understood substantially the same manner, since each of the constructions is formed with a braking edgewhether it be offset from the body of the plate as per Fig. 7, or otherwise as. per Fig. 6,is immaterial-which extends slightly below the roller so as to form the line of contact with the lift rail until the latter has inclined sufficiently to present its surface to the roller, the effect of action in either construction being to delay the return movementof the tone arm until after the needle hasbeen elevated to a point where it may be shifted crosswise of the record without danger of contact therewith.

I I am ;aware that repeating devices have heretofore been. known, in which use is made of mechanism generally similar to the present apparatus, but in 'many respects these devices have proved. unsatisfactory or commercially impracticable, owing to structural defects,l.assembling difficulties, etc, and it is with its component parts rather than with the device in its entirety, that the present. invention is primarily concerned. In the construction shown, I have attained. simplicity and economy in manufacture, and certainty in operation as well, and in respect of its several improvements, or such modifications thereof as may readily be effected without departing essentially from its structural principles, and as defined in the claims hereto appended, I desire pro tection to be accorded under this patent.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a sound box and a turn table provided with a center spindle, of a repeating attachment employing a threaded post removably secured to the spindle in a manner to turn therewith, and a connection between the post and the spindle comprising a bushing formed of spring material arranged to frictionally engage the spindle, the lower end of the post being socketed to receive the bushing, and the bushing being held non-rotatably within the socket by its oWn spring action, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a sound repro ducing instrument having a sound box and a turn table, oi a repeating attachment em ploying a threaded post removably secured to the table in a manner to turn therewith, and a connection between the post and the table comprising a spindle extended centrally from the table, and a bushing re ceived within a socket in the lower end of the post, the bushing being formed to pro-'' vide a plurality of spring sections, each with a curvature greater than that of the socket, and adapted to remain in the socket of its own accord and frictionally engage the spindle when arranged thereupon, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a sound box and a turn table, of a rail extended across the turn table below the sound box and adapted to be inclined in a predetermined manner, whereby the sound box is lifted and returned to its initial position by gravity, and a bracket carried by the sound box having means for contacting with the rail, said contacting means being dual in character frictional and anti-frictionaland adapted to contact with the rail one at a time, the latter only when the rail has reached a predetermined inclination, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a turn table and a sound box, oi a rail extended over the turn table and beneath the sound box, means for elevating one end of the rail to thereby raise the sound box preliminary to returning the same by a sliding movement to a selected position, and means associated with the sound box for retarding return movement of the same until after the rail has reached a predetermined inclination relative to the turn table, substantially as between the rail and the post threads com prising an oscillatable rod carried by the rail, a dog on the rod adapted to engage with the threads, having an ofi cent'er mounting on the rod, and means actuated by movement of the sound box for causing the dog to assume operative relation with one set of the post threads, the dog being adapted to assume operative relation with the other set of threads when it has traveled to the end of the post, substantially'as described.

6. An attachment for sound reproducing machines of the type having aspindledriven turn' -table adapted to accommodate a disk record and having a' swinging tone arm and a sound box, saidattachment'comprising a device adapted to be fitted onto the upper end of the turn-table spindle centrally of the turn=table so as to rotate with the latter, and said attachment comprising two arms, one above the other, and adapted to be pivotally supported at the side of the turn-table and to extend inwardly toward the center thereof, the lower arm being a pilot arm having a loose connection with the lower part of the elevating member, and the upper arm being a track arm having means adapted toengage the elevating member so that said arm will be inclined and engage a part movable with the sound box to restore the tone arm to starting position.

RUDOLPH BLASOHKE, 

